My 12 year old £250 HP is just about on it’s last legs so it is about time that I blew the dust off my wallet and got a new one.
It’ll be used for storing photos, internet, spreadsheets, watching the iPlayer and playing DVDs (but I guess I’ll need an external drive for that these days). Don’t need a gaming machine.
It’ll need a reasonably sized screen too. 15”+
Budget is £500 or less because I’m a tight wad.
Would rather go new than refurbished, just because.
Asus vivo books are pretty cheap depending on spec you can get a newish i3. Pretty stylish machines too.
Solid machines but your not going to get top and hardware and top end display at this budget.
The webcam on mine is functional but quite pants, for example. Corners have to be cut.
Also consider screen size as well as screen quality.. A 13/14 inch screen makes for a much more portable laptop, laptops with 15 inch or bigger screens can be quite cumbersome when traveling, to the point you may as well buy a desktop PC if you don't intend to use it on the move.
Also you say laptop?
I'd go with a 13-14 inch screen maximum as it makes for a much more portable device. You can always buy a cheap much bigger monitor to plug it into of you are desk bound.
I'd always ask myself 'do I need a laptop?' or is a desktop better value.
